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THE  ANCESTRY  AND 
FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE 
ONATE 

By 

MRS.  BEATRICE  QUIJADA  CORNISH 

University  of  California 


REPRINTED  FROM  "THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY" 
BY  H.  MORSE  STEPHENS  AND  HERBERT  E.  BOLTON. 
THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1917,  By  The  Macmillan  Company. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcliive 

in  2007  witli  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/ancestryfamilyofOOcornricli 


VI 


5^ 


THE  ANCESTRY  AND  FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE  ONATE  ^ 
Beatrice  Quijada  Cornish 

The  ancestry  of  Juan  de  Oiiate,^  on  his  father^s  side,  may  be 
traced  to  the  Basque  provinces.^  The  importance  of  these  prov- 
inces in  the  evolution  of  Spain  and  her  possessions  is  historically 
established.  In  religion  alone,  through  Ignatius  de  Loyola  of 
Guipuzcoa  and  Francis  Xavier  of  Navarre,  they  have  left  their 
mark  upon  Europe. 

Cristobal  de  Oiiate,  father  of  Don  Juan,  was  born  in  Vitoria,* 
the  capital  of  Alava.^  He  was  the  son  of  Cristobal  Perez  de 
Narriahondo  and  Ossanza  Martinez  de  San  Vicente,  his  wife.  He 
was  also  a  nephew  of  Pedro  de  Baeza  and  Maria  de  Yrarrazaval, 
his  wife,  of  the  ancient  and  illustrious  house  of  Narriahondo, 

1  This  paper  was  written  in  the  Bancroft  Library  at  the  University  of  California. 

*  Originally  Oinati  or  Oniati,  Soraluce,  Historia  General  de  Guipuzcoa,  I,  256. 
8  Provincias    Vascongadas,    a   division   of   northeastern   Spain,    comprising   the 

provinces  of  Alava,  Biscaya  or  Viscaya,  Guipuzcoa  and  Navarre.  Their  isolation, 
the  mountainous  and  easily  defended  nature  of  the  country,  their  comparative 
poverty  and  the  possession  of  a  seaboard,  all  tended  to  the  development  of  rugged 
characteristics  essential  to  a  people  who  were  destined  to  carry  on  warfare  and 
adventure  for  centuries  in  the  liberation  of  their  mother  country  from  the  Moors, 
and  in  the  conquest  and  settlement  of  her  distant  colonies. 

*  Mendieta,  Historia  Eclesidstica  Indiana,  402 ;  Berndrdez,  Descripcidn  Breve 
de  la  muy  noble,  y  leal  ciudad  de  Zacatecas,  31,  according  to  Haro's  iVobt'Zano.  B6- 
thencourt,  Historia  Genealogica  Heraldica  de  la  Monarquia  Espafiola  Casa  Real  y 
Grandes  de  Espana,  1,  Introduction,  8-9,  says  regarding  Lopez  de  Haro,  author 
of  the  Nobilario:  "A  Alonso  Lopez  de  Haro,  Criado  de  Su  Magestad,  cronista 
que  fu6  de  Felipe  IV,  debemos  el  Nobilario  Geneal6gico  de  los  Reyes  y 
TItulos  creados  en  Castilla  desde  que  tuvieron  el  caracter  de  transmisibles  y  here- 
ditarios,  6  lo  que  es  lo  mismo,  desde  los  tiempos  de  Don  Enrique  II,  el  de  las  Mer- 
cedes, hasta  los  de  Felipe  IV,  d  la  sazon  reinante."  Berndrdez,  p.  34,  in  quoting 
Haro,  does  so  verbatim.  A  copy  of  Haro's  work  was  furnished  to  him  by  Doctor 
Don  Juan  Ignacio  Maria  Castorena  y  Urstia.  A  Clvica  Corona  compiled  by  Cas- 
torena  y  Ursiia  from  his  researches  in  archives,  from  his  detailed  study  of  crdnican 
and  surveys  of  Nobilarios,  is  mentioned  by  Berndrdez,  but  it  is  not  available  to  the 
writer.  For  information  on  Castorena,  y  Urstia,  see  his  Las  Indiaa  Entendidaa, 
Sermon  10/1  and  El  Predicador  (Jonvertido,  Sermon  8/4. 

6  For  the  origin  of  the  name  Xlava,  s6e  Madoz,  the  Diccionario  Geogrdfico-Eatadls- 
tico-Hiatdrico  de  Espafia  y  sua posesiones  de  Ultramar;  Salazar,  Mexico  en  1554,  P-  56. 
For  the  history  of  the  province  of  Alava,  see  Pirala,  Espafia,  sua  monumentoa  y 
artea,  su  naturaleza  e  historia,  pp.  48-185.  For  the  history  of  Villa  de  Ofiate,  see 
Pirala,  pp.  330-384. 

452 


ANCESTRY  AND   FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE   OI^ATE         453 

within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  important  Villa  de  Oiiate,  in  the 
province  of  Alava.  There  is  evidence  that  this  Villa  was  in  exis- 
tence in  1 149.^  It  is  situated  in  the  centre  of  the  Basque  provinces. 
Pedro  de  Baeza  was  a  descendant  of  Lopez  Diaz  de  Haro,  "  Seiior 
de  Viscaya/'  chief  and  captain-general  of  the  Andalusian  frontier, 
bishopric  of  Jaen,  who  conquered  the  city  of  Baeza  from  the 
Moors  in  1227.  This  achievement  caused  him  to  order  that  all 
of  his  descendants  adopt  the  surname  of  Baeza,  so  as  to  per- 
petuate this  victory  over  the  Moors. ^  In  the  early  seventeenth 
century  there  were  many  families  of  this  name  both  in  Baeza  and 
Viscaya.^ 

The  ancestry  of  Juan  de  Onate  on  his  mother's  side  may 
be    traced    to    Granada.'^      Dona    Cathalina    de    Salazar,    his 

1  Pirala,  p.  179. 

'  Bern&rdez,  p.  32,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario. 

»  Arlegui,  Chrdnica  de  la  Provincia  de  N.  S.  P.  S.  Francisco  de  Zacatecas,  1st  ed., 
pp.  56-57. 

*  Carranza,  Sumaria  Relacidn  de  las  Cosas  de  la  Nueva  Espafla,  289.  The 
work  of  Baltasar  Dorantes  de  Carranza,  to  which  frequent  reference  will  be  made, 
appears  to  have  been  little  used  heretofore.  Because  of  its  importance,  the  writer 
feels  warranted  in  adding  a  statement  bearing  on  the  interesting  history  of  both 
the  author  and  his  manuscript.  This  manuscript,  probably  his  autobiography, 
according  to  Obreg6n,  writer  of  the  prologue  of  the  publication,  was  published  in 
1902  by  the  Museo  Nacional  de  Mexico.  Prior  to  this  time  it  had  been  in  the  pos- 
session of  Sr.  Lie.  D.  Jos6  Fernando  Ramirez.  Upon  the  death  of  this  distinguished 
"bibli6filo"  it  was  obtained  along  with  other  manuscripts  and  the  majority  of  the 
books  in  his  valuable  Ubrary,  by  Sr.  Lie.  D.  Alfredo  Chavero.  Upon  one  occasion, 
having  shown  this  manuscript  to  Sr.  D.  Joaquin  Garcia  Icazbalceta,  he  was  so 
delighted  with  the  work,  that  it  was  given  to  him  as  a  present  by  its  owner.  While 
in  possession  of  Icazbalceta,  Sr.  D.  Jos6  Maria  de  Agreda  y  Sdnchez  had  occasion 
to  see  the  manuscript,  and  he  in  turn  was  so,  pleased  with  its  contents  that  he  de- 
cided to  make  a  palcographJcal  translation.  Agreda  then  requested  Luis  Gonzdlez 
Obreg6n  to  check  the  copy  with  the  original,  and  he  became  so  interested  in  its  con- 
tents that  he  suggested  to  him  that  the  nnanuscript  be  published  as  soon  as  possible. 
Unable  to  do  so  at  that  time,  he  did  so  later.  His  idea  was  greatly  encouraged  by 
Sr.  Dr.  D.  Manuel  Urbina,  who  communicated  with  Sr.  D.  Francisco  del  Paso  y 
Troncoso,  already  familiar  with  the  manuscript.  The  document  was  published 
in  its  entirety  for  the  first  time  in  1902;  a  few  pages  are  incorporated  in  Garcia 
Icazbalceta's  Memorias  de  la  Academia  Mexicana.  As  the  first  fourteen  pages  of 
the  original  manuscript  were  missing,  and  therefore  a  title  was  lacking,  Ramirez 
gave  the  book  the  name  of  Sumaria  Relacidn  de  las  Cosas  de  Nueva  Espana,  con 
noticia  individual  de  los  descendientes  legitimos  de  las  conquistadores  y  primeros  pobla- 
dores  espafioles.  Carranza  was  the  son  of  Andr6s  Dorantes  de  Carranza,  one  of  the 
companions  of  Cabeza  de  Vaca.  Andres  Dorantes  was  a  native  of  Bejar  del  Cas- 
tanar  in  old  Castile,  and  a  descendant  of  noble  families,  of  ancient  lineage,  possessing 
many  '' mayorazgos  de  calidad."  Baltasar  was  born  in  Mexico  about  the  middle 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  inherited  an  encomienda  which  brought  him  five 
thousand  pesos  de  renta,  of  which  he  was  despoiled,  being  left,  as  he  good  naturedly 
remarks,  "desnudo  y  en  cueros  como  cuando  sali6  mi  padre  de  la  Florida."  He 
wrote  in  Mexico  in  1604,  as  he  himself  states  in  several  places  in  his  work.  On 
one  occasion  he  says:  "Not  more  than  eighty-four  years  have  elapsed  since  this 
land  was  conquered,  which  is  in  1604,  and  therefore  the  persons  living  are  known, 
and  the  memory  of  those  deceased  is  still  alive."  Beyond  the  data  furnished  by 
himself,  little  is  known  of  him,  but  he  enters  into  an  interesting  account  of  the  life, 
ancestry,  and  descendants  of  his  father,  Andres  Dorantes  de  Carranza.     Baltasar 


454  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

mother/  was  the  daughter  of  Gonzalo  de  Salazar,  "el  gordo,"  and 
Dona  Cathalina  de  la  Cadena.^  She  had  previously  been  married 
to  Ruy  Diaz  de  Mendoza,  who  upon  his  death  left  her  a  widow  in 
Spain.  She  then  came  from  Spain  to  Mexico  and  married  Cris- 
tobal de  Ofiate,  Don  Juan's  father,  who  was  at  that  time  a  vecino 
of  the  city  of  Mexico.^  Dona  Cathalina  de  la  Cadena  was  the 
daughter'*  of  Alonso  Davila,^  "  el  de  Malacatepec,"^  conquistador 
and  vecino  of  the  city  of  MexicoJ  Antonio  de  la  Cadena  came 
from  Spain  to  Texcuco  *  with  Geronimo  Ruiz  de  la  Mota,  also  a 
conquistador.^ 

Don  Cristobal  de  Onate  came  from  Spain  in  the  autumn  of 
1524/°  with  the  contador,  Rodrigo  de  Albornoz  ^^  and  Gonzalo  de 

was  tesorero  for  the  king  in  the  port  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  occupied  other  positions 
of  merit  in  New  Spain.  Later  he  was  named  procurador  general  to  the  king  of 
Spain.  He  mentions  another  book  which  he  wrote,  and  which  he  calls  "el  libra 
principal."  He  says:  "se  tocard  universalmente  lo  que  conviene  decir  en  este 
prop6sito  en  el  libro  principal,  porque  no  es  deste  lugar,  que  harfa  historia  de  in- 
mensidad"  (Carranza,  p.  63).  According  to  Obreg6n,  this  book  has  never  been 
found. 

1  The  discussion  relative  to  Juan  de  Onate's  mother,  namely :  whether  Dona 
Isabel  Cortes  Montezuma  was  his  mother  or  his  wife,  has  been  brought  about 
because  the  only  source  on  which  authorities  have  based  their  deductions  was 
Haro's  Nobilario,  and  this  work  has  been  differently  quoted.  Arlegui,  1st  ed., 
p.  31,  erroneously  calls  Dona  Isabel  Cortes  Montezuma  the  wife  of  Don  Crist6bal. 
The  San  Luis  PotosI  Relacion  Circuns.  confirms  this  statement  by  calling  Don  Juan 
"hijode  Dona  Isabel,"  according  to  Bancroft,  Hist.  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  p. 
116  ;  Villagr^,  Historia  de  la  Nueva  Mexico,  Canto  Sexto  ;  Berndrdez,  p.  31 ;  Arlegui, 
Ist  ed.,  p.  34 ;  Luis  Tribaldo  de  Toledo,  Intro.,  Villagrd,  and  likewise  Carranza, 
Don  Juan  was  the  husband  of  Dona  Isabel. 

2  Carranza,  p.  290. 
Ubid. 

*  Ibid.,  pp.  282,  290. 

'  Ibid.,  p.  163.  Alonso  Ddvila  had  a  son,  Ger6nimo  Ddvila ;  grandsons,  Hernando 
de  Salazar,  Joan  Alonso  Ddvila,  Francisco  Davila,  Diego  de  Cayas ;  great  grand- 
sons, Alonso  Ddvila  Magarifio,  Joan  Magarino.  i 

*  For  information  regarding  Malacatepec,  see  Alcedo.  ' 
''  Carranza,  p.  195. 

8  Tezcuco,  a  jurisdiction  and  alcaldia  mayor  of  New  Spain.  It  was  here  that 
king  Nzahualcoyotl  maintained  his  sovereignty,  and  after  the  establishment  of  the 
Mexican  empire  it  was  the  court  of  the  princes  of  the  race  of  Montezuma.  It  is 
15  miles  e.  n.  e.  of  Mexico  at  the  foot  of  the  sierra,  which  is  the  e.  wall  of  the  valley 
of  Tenoxtitlan,  in  lat.  19°  31'  30"  and  long.  98°  52'  w. 

*  Ger6nimo  Ruiz  de  la  Mota,  "capitan  de  un  vergantin  de  los  vallesteros."  He 
left  many  sons  and  daughters,  the  oldest  being  Antonio  de  la  Mota.  Alonso  de 
la  Mota  and  Pedro  de  la  Mota  are  his  brothers.  Memorial  (anonymous)  de  los 
conquistador  es  de  esta  Nueva  Espana  que  se  hallaron  en  la  toma  de  Mexico  y  fueron 
despues  a  ganar  y  conquistar  con  el  Marques  del  Valle  las  provincias  de  Tutupeque  y 
la  provincia  de  Guatemala,  Honduras  e  Higueras  que  fue  toda  la  Nueva  Espafia. 
Incorporated  in  Appendix  of  Carranza's  work  as  published  by  the  Museo  Nacional 
de  Mexico,  p.  443  et  seq.     Carranza,  p.  195. 

1°  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  144,  states :  "Salazar  arrived  in  the  autumn, 
ace.  to  Cortes  Cartas."  Carranza,  p.  315,  states:  "Vino  d  esta  Nueva  Spafia 
quando  el  contador  Rodrigo  de  Albornoz." 

"  Carranza,  pp.  290,  315.  Rodrigo  de  Alborn6z  had  been  secretary  to  the  king 
prior  to  his  appointment  as  revenue  official.     His  appointment  is  dated  Balladolid, 


ANCESTRY  AND  FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE  O^TATE         455 

Salazar,  the  latter  as  factor.  The  strongest  characteristic  of 
Gonzalo  de  Salazar,  grandfather  of  Don  Juan,  as  gleaned  from 
the  pages  of  authorities  who  have  treated  of  his  career  in  Mexico, 
is  one  of  subtle  duplicity.  Arriving  in  Mexico  with  the-  expecta- 
tion of  acquiring  great  and  sudden  wealth,  he  lost  no  time  in 
fawning  upon  Cortes  in  the  hope  that  he  might  be  allowed  to 
share  in  the  plunder  of  the  colonial  revenue.  Failing  in  this  en- 
deavor, because  Cortes  neither  possessed  the  treasures,  nor  was 
willing  to  share  his  receipts  with  others,  he  with  other  revenue 
oflBcials  instituted  a  systematic  attack  upon  the  captain-general, 
libelling  his  character  and  his  acts  to  the  king  of  Spain.  Cortes 
seems  to  have  proved  pliable  to  their  purposes,  because  upon 
leaving  on  his  expedition  into  Honduras,  Salazar  and  Chirinos 
were  left  in  charge  at  Mexico.  This  so  facilitated  their  plan  of 
intrigue  that  prior  to  1526  they  were  in  entire  control  of  the  gov- 
ernment. During  the  long  absence  of  Cortes  in  Honduras,  false 
reports  of  his  death  were  eagerly  circulated  by  Salazar  and  his 
associates,  thereby  urging  the  commissioners  to  greater  activity, 
and  resulting  in  a  usurpation  of  power.  The  estates  of  Cortes, 
the  offices,  lands,  and  Indians  of  his  followers,  were  seized  and 
appropriated  by  Salazar.  Salazar  was  soon  overthrown  by  a 
portion  of  the  followers  of  Cortes  who  had  been  inspired  with 
courage  upon  learning  that  Cortes  lived.  He  was  released  on 
the  plea  of  Albornoz  while  at  the  court  of  Spain.  He  went 
to  Spain  prior  to  1542,  and  joining  Soto  in  the  expedition  to 
Florida,  narrowly  escaped  hanging  for  disobedience  to  his  chief. 
He  died  in  obscurity.  When  Salazar  went  to  Spain  he  left 
his  son  Hernando  de  Salazar,  uncle  of  Juan  de  Oiiate,  as  fac- 
tor, Hernando  de  Salazar  left  an  indebtedness  to  the  king  of 
three  hundred  thousand  yesos,  and  upon  his  death  Juan  Velaz- 
quez, his  younger  brother,  bound  himself  to  liquidate  this  debt. 
Assuming  the  office  of  factory  he  served  the  king  many  years, 
in  the  haciendas  of  his  father  as  well  as  in  the  encomiendas 
and  pueblos  of  Taximora,  in  the  province  of  Michoacan  and  in 

October  25,  1522,  and  reads:  "cuidando  hacer  cargo  al  oficial  real  tercero  de  los 
tributos,  servicios,  composiciones  que  los  indios  y  naturales  de  la  trerra  debian 
pagar,  como  de  todo  lo  demas  perteneciente  en  cualquier  manera  al  real  erario, 
segun  es  de  ver  en  el  torao  I  de  los  cedularios  que  existen  en  el  real  tribunal  de  la 
contaduria  mayor  de  cuentas."  Fonseca,  Historia  General  de  la  Real  Hacienda, 
vol.  1,  p.  413. 


456  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

the  province  of  Tepetlaeztoc,  seven  leagues  from  the  city  of 
Mexico.^ 

Juan  Velazquez  de  Salazar,  son  of  Gonzalo,  was  a  native  of 
Granada.^  He  married  Doiia  Ana  de  Esquivel,  daughter  of  the 
tesorero,  Alonso  de  Merida.^  By  1604,  the  greater  number  of  his 
children  and  their  descendants  were  deceased,  but  his  daughter 
Dona  Francisca  de  la  Cadena  y  Salazar,  married  Caspar  de 
Rivadeneira,  and  they  had  children.  In  1604  were  also  living 
three  unmarried  daughters  of  Juan  Velazquez,  who  were  cousins 
of  Juan  de  Oiiate.^  Juan  Velazquez  was  not  a  conquistador  but 
an  encomendero  appointed  by  Cortes,  as  was  also  Don  Cristobal, 
his  brother-in-law.^ 

Although,  as  stated,  Juan  de  Ofiate's  father,  Don  Cristobal, 
arrived  in  Mexico  in  1524,  the  first  record  of  actual  service  is  as 
captain  in  the  confidence  of  Nuno  de  Guzman,  and  the  recipient 
of  generous  gifts  of  pueblos,  which  of  right  belonged  to  Cortes 
and  others.®  This  was  in  1528-29,  during  the  period  of  the 
first  Audiencia.  In  his  relations  with  Guzman,  his  self-respect 
and  conservatism  are  a  striking  contrast  to  the  "unprincipled 
ambition  of  the  self-sufficient  autocrat."  Don  Cristobal  was  one 
of  the  conquerors  of  New  Galicia.^  He  proved  himself  equal  to 
the  difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  the  situation  he  encountered. 


1  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  pp.  143-145,  193-237.  Salazar  y  Olarte, 
p,  284,  says :  "Gonzalo  de  Salazar  deseoso  de  ser  unico  en  el  dominio  de  la  Nueva 
Espafia."  Also,  ibid.,  pp.  282-283  :  "No  se  ignora  la  confianza  de  nuestro  celebre 
capit^n  d  favor  de  Pedro  Almindez  Chirinos  y  de  Gonzalo  de  Salazar ;  pues  vencido 
de  la  persuasion,  6  pagad6  de  la  lisonja  (ruido  agradable  de  la  fantasia,  y  flecha, 
que  destruye  el  mundo  de  la  razon),  quiso  conferirles  el  govierno  de  la  Nueva 
Espafia."  Data  bearing  on  the  indebtedness  left  by  Hernando  de  Salazar  has  been 
taken  from  Carranza,  p.  290. 

«  Carranza,  pp.  289-290. 

» Ibid.,  p.  269  :  "Alonso  de  M6rida,  thesorero  que  fu6  de  la  Casa  de  la  Moneda 
y  Senor  de  la  Provincia  de  Metztitlan.  Qued6  en  esta  casa  y  sucesion  Francisco 
de  Quintana  Duenas,  y  en  la  encomienda  por  casamiento  con  Dona  Mariana  de 
M6rida,  nieta  del  dicho  thesorero  por  varon." 

*  Ibid.,  p.  290. 

*  "  Memorial  de  los  que  no  son  conquistadores  y  tienen  Yndios  encomendados  de 
el  Marques  de  el  Valle."  Incorporated  in  Carranza,  p.  456.  Cort6s  gave  freely  to 
recently  arrived  friends  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  conquest.  Cortes,  Residencia, 
pp.  48,  81-82,  259-262. 

•Nuno  de  Guzmdn  was  a  native  of  Guadalajara  in  Castile,  and  a  "caballero 
notorio."  It  is  not  known  whether  he  left  any  descendants,  and  Carranza  only 
knew  Diego  de  Guzmdn,  a  nephew  of  Nufio,  in  Mexico.     Carranza,  p.  306. 

'  For  most  of  the  events  of  this  rebellion  and  the  work  of  Onate  therein,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  three  early  chroniclers:  Tello,  Hist.  N.  Gal.,  362-438; 
Mota  Padilla,  Conquista  de  Nueva  Galicia,  111-154;  Beaumont,  Cron.  Mich., 
IV,  59-66 ;  386-421 ;  Ms.  300-303  ;  422-425  ;  550-580.    Herrera  also  speaks  of  these 


ANCESTRY  AND   FAMILY  OF  JUAN   DE   ONATE         457 

and  the  characteristics  of  the  Basque  people  stood  him  in  good 
stead.  His  obstinate  conservatism  dming  the  Mix  ton  War,  com- 
bined with  intelKgence  and  executive  ability,  make  Don  Cristobal 
a  type  figure.  Throughout  his  strenuous  career  in  the  new  world, 
and  more  particularly  during  this  rebellion,  his  courage,  combined 
with  other  qualities  characterized  as  inherent  in  the  "Seiiores  de 
Viscaya,"  ^  are  apparent.  .  :_> 

While  Don  Cristobal  was  in  Galicia,  his  family  was  in  the  pueblo 
of  Tacambaro  in  the  province  of  Michoacan,  of  which  he  was  en- 
coTnendero?  He  was  also  encomendero  of  Culhuacan,  two  leagues 
from  the  city  of  Mexico.^  His  brother,  Juan  de  Oiiate,  took  a 
very  active  part  in  the  conquest  of  New  Galicia,  and  about  1531 
was  sent  to  establish  Espiritu  Santo,  called  later  Guadalajara  in 
honor  of  Guzman's  birthplace.'^  The  movements  of  Don  Juan 
prior  to  this  time  are  not  clear.  He  was  a  staunch  partisan  of 
Guzman,  and  after  the  fall  of  the  latter  his  brother  Don  Cristobal 
advised  him  to  escape.  He  fled  to  Peru,  where,  as  some  say,  he 
died  poor  and  blind. ^ 

The  relations  of  Guzman's  successor,  Diego  Perez  de  la  Torre,^ 
and  Don  Cristobal  were  most  friendly,  and  upon  the  death  of  the 
former  in  the  revolt  of  1538,  he  formally  appointed  Cristobal 
de  Onate  his  successor  as  governor,  and  entrusted  to  his  protec- 
tion his  two  marriageable  daughters.  Onate  proved  faithful  to 
the  trust.^ 

In  the  year  1548  we  find  Cristobal  de  Onate  in  Zacatecas,  with 
his  friends  Diego  de  Ibarra,  Baltasar  Treviiio  de  Baiiuelos,  and 
Juan  de  Tolosa,  all  Spanish  officers  of  rank,  in  search  of  mines. ^ 

events.  Original  documents  on  the  subject  are  few,  according  to  Bancroft,  Hist. 
Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  511. 

1  Arlegui,  p.  58 ;  Villagrd,  Canto  Tercero. 

'  Mota  Padilla,  Conquista  de  Nueva  Galicia,  193. 

'  Carranza,  p.  315.  By  royal  cMula  issued  February  1534,  New  Spain  was 
divided  into  four  provinces,  designated  as  Mexico,  Michoacan,  Goazacoalco,  and 
Miztecapan.  The  limits  of  each  were  properly  defined.  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico, 
vol.  2,  p.  391,  according  to  Puga,  Cedulario,  pp.  90-91. 

*  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  366. 
» Ibid.,  p.  462. 

*  Appointed  governor  of  Nueva  Galicia  by  cSdula,  March  17,  1536.  Mota 
Padilla,  pp.  104-109. 

^  One  of  the  daughters  married  Jacinto  de  Pineda  y  Ledesma,  a  person  of  good 
birth,  and  the  other  married  the  alferez  mayor,  Fernando  Flores,  from  whom  Mota 
Padilla  claims  to  be  descended.     Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  464. 

*  Berndrdez,  p.  26.  For  portraits  of  these  four  men,  see  Bern&rdez.  Tolosa  was 
known  as  "el  rico"  and  nicknamed  "barba  longa." 


458  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

They  were  extremely  successful  in  their  ventures,  becoming  the 
wealthiest  men  in  America  at  that  time.^  Don  Cristobal  came  to 
Zacatecas  accompanied  by  his  family,  and  all  others  who  might 
desire  to  accompany  him.^  The  deeds  of  this  illustrious  sire  are 
praised  by  all  of  his  chroniclers,  and  the  generosity  which  he  dis- 
played in  Zacatecas  is  held  to  be  equal  to  the  munificence  of  the 
wealthiest  prindpes  del  universo.^  One  of  his  chroniclers  calls 
him  "  son  of  the  most  noble  and  ever  loyal  province  of  Alava,  whose 
sons  ever  noble  and  generous,  have  always  proved  themselves 
magnanimous  and  renowned."^  His  Christian  and  fervent  piety 
is  attested  to  on  various  occasions.  While  in  Zacatecas  he  had  a 
bell  with  which  he  daily  summoned  to  his  table  all  who  might 
desire  to  eat,  a  practice  which  he  continued  throughout  his  life.^ 
That  he  was  an  excellent  specimen  of  the  old  time  sire,  consider- 
ate, kind,  and  courteous,  cannot  be  disputed.  The  Reverend  Padre 
Fray  Diego  de  Vasalanque  of  the  order  of  St.  Augustine,  states 
that  in  order  to  recount  the  praises  due  to  Onate  because  of  his 
generosity,  an  "historia  particular''  would  be  required,  that  his 
nobility,  his  courage,  and  his  liberality  kept  pace  with  his  Chris- 
tian spirit ;  that  he  endeavored  to  care  for  the  Indians  as  if  they 
were  his  own,  and  neither  he  nor  his  son  Don  Fernando  collected 
the  tribute  ^  from  the  Indians  for  many  years,  but  permitted  them 
to  receive  the  benefit  thereof,  so  as  to  help  them  in  the  construction 
of  the  missions.^  Mota  Padilla  takes  occasion  to  remark  that  Don 
Cristobal  could  not  have  been  like  the  other  conquistadores}  The 
date  of  his  death  has  not  been  determined,  but  we  know  that 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  deceased  at  the  time  Carranza  wrote, 
which  was  in  1604.  How  many  years  prior  to  that  date  we  do 
not  know.^ 

Juan  de  Onate,  son  of  Cristobal  and  Dona  Cathalina  de  Salazar, 
was  born  in  Mexico,^^  although  we  do  not  know  the  date  or  his 

1  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  554. 

'  Frejes,  Historia  Breve,  p.  124 ;  Berndrdez,  p.  26.     For  the  founding  of  Zaca- 
tecas, see  Berndrdez,  pp.  1-90;  Mota  Padilla,  p.  191. 

•  Arlegui,  pp.  58-59. 

•  Ibid.,  pp.  58-59. 

6  Ibid.,  p.  58  ;  Berndrdez,  p.  26. 

•  For  history  of  Tributos  y  Reales  Servicios,  see  Fonseca,  VI. 
,    '  Mota  Padilla,  p.  103. 

8  Ibid.,  p.  103. 

'  Carranza,  p.  315. 

"  Mercurio  Volante,  p.  2 ;  Villagrd,  prologo,  fol.  vi. 


ANCESTRY  AND  FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE  ONATE         459 

native  town.^  We  know  little  of  his  youth,  although  we  may  infer 
that  in  a  stimulating  environment  he  had  every  advantage  that 
good  birth  and  opportunities  could  bestow.  He  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  king  early  in  life  and  continued  therein  throughout  his 
career,  being  still  active  in  1620.^  His  general  services  cover 
"bloody  encounters  with  the  Chichimecs,  the  discovery  of  the 
rich  mines  of  Zichu,^  Charcas,  and  San  Luis  Potosi,  which  he 
peopled  with  Spaniards,  as  well  as  being  the  settler  of  New  Mexico, 
where  he  brought  many  natives  to  the  obedience  of  the  king,  v 
thereby  immortalizing  himself  in  the  history  of  both  hemispheres."^ 
He  has  been  compared  in  daring  to  Cortes  and  in  adventure  to 
Columbus.^ 

Juan  de  Onate  married  Doiia  Isabel  Tolosa  Cortes  Montezuma, 
great  granddaughter  of  Montezuma,  granddaughter  of  Cortes, 
daughter  of  Juan  de  Tolosa  and  Leonor  Cortes  de  Montezuma.® 

t^  *  Davis,  Spanish  Conquest  of  New  Mexico,  p.  263,  says:  "Don  Juan  de  Ofiate, 
native  of  Zacatecas,"  but  no  reference  is  given  as  to  source  of  information. 

'  Bern^rdez,  p.  32,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario:  "Don  Juan  de  Onate,  re- 
spondiendo  &  su  valor  y  virtud  militar  despues  de  aver  fervido  a  la  corona  de  Iob 
Reyes  sus  Sefiores  fus  primeros  anos  hafta  el  presente  de  1620,  con  honor." 

» Carranza,  p.  129. 

*  Berndrdez,  p.  32. 

'  Tribaldo  de  Toledo,  Villagrd,  Cancidn  Pindarica. 

•Villagrd,  Canto  Sexto;  Berndrdez,  p.  31;  Luis  Tribaldo  de  Toledo,  Soneto, 
Intro.,  Villagrd;  Arlegui,  1st  ed.,  p.  34.  Cort6s  was  first  married  in  Cuba  to 
Catalina  Sudrez,  a  native  of  Granada,  in  Andalusia.  Her  death  occurred  in  1522. 
It  is  supposed  that  by  her  he  had  a  child,  but  nothing  definite  can  be  ascertained 
on  this  point.  A  natural  daughter  by  a  Cuban  Indian  is  also  mentioned  at  that 
time.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Dona  Juana  de  Zdfiiga.  Bancroft,  Hist. 
Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  483.  From  the  second  marriage  he  had  a  son  Don  Martin  Cort6s, 
"que  8ucedi6  en  su  casa  y  estado  y  vino  &  tener  ciento  y  sesenta  mill  pesos  en  renta, 
y  en  discurso  de  34  afios  creo  que  han  quedado  en  quarenta  mill  y  se  va  consumiendo 
de  manera  que  d  poco  rato  6  tiempo  se  imagina  una  gran  ruina  y  acabamiento, 
porque  los  indios  se  acaban  &  prisa."  Carranza,  p.  99.  Don  Martin  was  married 
to  Dofia  Ana  Ramirez  de  Arellano,  daughter  of  the  Conde  de  Aguilar.  They  had 
a  child,  Don  Fernado  Cort6s,  third  Marquis,  who  married  Dofia  Theresa  de  la 
Cerda,  sister  of  the  Conde  Chinch6n.  Don  Martin  also  had  another  son,  Don 
Ger6nimo  Cort6s,  "del  hdbito  de  Santiago,"  who  had  died  before  Carranza  wrote, 
i.e.  1604.  Also  Don  Pedro  Pizarro  Cortes,  "del  habito  de  Calatrava  6  Alcdntara." 
In  1604  he  still  lived  and  had  inherited  the  estate  of  his  brother,  Don  Fernado. 
Carranza,  pp.  99-100.  Don  Martin  also  had  a  daughter  Dona  Catalina  Pizarro, 
who  married  the  Conde  de  Pliego.  According  to  Bancroft  these  last  two  children 
were  illegitimate.  Don  Martin  married  a  second  time,  but  Carranza  says  there 
was  no  issue.  Cortes,  the  original  Marqu6s  del  Valle,  also  had  through  the  Zuniga 
marriage  three  daughters.  Dona  Catalina,  who  died  single ;  Dofia  Juana  Cort6s, 
who  married  the  Duque  de  Alcald,  Marqu6s  de  Tarifa ;  Dona  Maria  Cort6s,  who 
married  the  Conde  de  Luna,  in  the  city  of  Le6n.  Cortes  also  had  several  illegiti- 
mate children.  Don  Martin  Cort6s  was  the  son  of  la  Malinche,  an  Indian  woman. 
He  belonged  to  the  "hdbito  de  Santiago."  This  illegitimate  son  left  an  illegitimate 
son,  Don  Fernando  Cort6s,  of  whom  Carranza  says :  "Trae  una  cruz  d,  los  pechos, 
y  no  de  la  muestra  y  calidad  que  su  padre  y  tios  y  primos.  Hubole  en  Castilla  en 
una  sefiora,  en  la  ciudad  de  Logrono,  que  sin  ofensa  de  su  calidad  pudiera  casarse 
con  ella,  y  aun  con  este  concept©  se  fi6  ella  de  el.     Htibole  pasando  d  la  guerra  de 


460  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

They  had  two  children,  Cristobal  de  Onate  and  Maria  de  Oiiate. 
Dona  Maria  married  the  Maestre  de  Campo,  Vicente  de  Zaldivar.^ 
In  1620,  at  the  time  of  the  publication  of  Haro's  Nobilario,  the 
son  was  not  married  and  was  active  in  the  service  of  the  king.  At 
that  time  he  had  already  shown  great  courage,  and  had  held  the 
position  of  lieutenant-governor  and  captain-general  in  the  province 
of  New  Mexico,  where  he  had  served  Philip  II  and  Philip  III, 
demonstrating  the  soldierly  qualities  and  the  nobility  of  his  ante- 
cedents.^ 

Where  and  when  the  lad  was  born,  or  where  he  obtained  his 
"  early  "  education,  we  do  not  know.  That  his  father  took  pleasure 
in  developing  in  his  young  son  the  martial  spirit  so  predominant 

Granada,  por  capitan,  donde  murio."  Martfn  Cort6s,  son  of  Malinche,  also  had 
a  daughter  Dona  Ana  Cortes  de  Porres,  through  his  marriage  with  Dona  Bernardina 
de  Porres,  "senora  de  gran  calidad,  seso  y  discrecion."  Dona  Ana  Cortes  de 
Porres  was  married  to  a  "caballero  muy  igual  a  su  merecimiento "  whose  name  is 
not  given  by  Carranza.  They  had  a  son,  Don  Juan  Cortes,  who  in  1604  had  re- 
cently arrived  in  the  fleet  which  brought  the  viceroy  Marques  de  Montesclaros,  to 
whom  Carranza  dedicated  his  work.  He  states  that  in  his  intercourse  with  Don 
Juan,  he  has  always  found  him  honorable  and  worthy  on  account  of  his  virtues, 
being  the  son  and  grandson  and  great-grandson  of  worthy  persons.  His  exact 
language  is  interesting :  "de  lo  poco  que  he  tratado  d  este  caballero,  y  de  la  buena 
fama  que  tiene,  le  conozco  por  muy  cuerdo  y  honrado  y  que  es  digno,  por  sus  vir- 
tudes,  de  ser  hijo  y  nieto  de  quien  es,  y  bisnieto  del  gran  Cortes."  Carranza,  pp.  100- 
101.  Again,  Cortes,  the  original  Marques  del  Valle,  had  a  daughter  Dona  Leonor 
Cortes,  who  married  Juan  de  Tolosa  in  Zacatecas.  IDona  Leonor  was  the  daughter 
of  Dona  Isabel,  oldest  daughter  of  Montezuma.  Dona  Leonor  had  two  daughters, 
one  of  whom  married  Don  Juan  de  Oiiate,  the  other  married  Cristobal  de  Zaldlvar. 
Dona  Leonor  also  had  other  daughters  whose  names  are  not  given,  but  who  in  1604, 
were  nuns  in  Seville.  Carranza,  pp.  100-101.  Cortes  also  had  another  illegitimate 
son,  Don  Luis  Cort6s,  "del  habito  de  Calatrava,"  que  hubo  en  esta  tierra  en  una 
muger  spanola,  no  de  las  mas  ignotas  y  escondidas,  sino  muger  de  buena  suerte." 
This  Don  Luis  married  in  Mexico  Doiia  Guimor  VAzquez  de  Escobar,  "dama  muy 
calificada,  rica  y  muy  hermosa."  They  had  no  children.  Don  Luis  was  taken 
as  prisoner  to  Spain,  and  died  on  the  journey.  Both  he  and  his  brothers  died 
"  desnaturalizados  de  su  patria,  pareci6ndose  mucho  a  su  padre  en  los  trabajos  que 
le  saltaron  como  atajado  En  Castilleja  de  la  Cuesta,  y  un  corazon,  tan  grande,  que 
no  cupo  en  el  mundo,  ni  se  harto  ni  lleno  su  dnimo  con  lo  que  descubrio  y  conquist6  : 
le  sobro  en  aquel  lugarejo  un  palmo  6  siete  pies  de  tierra  en  que  cupo  aquel  cuerpo 
y  bravosidad,  y  acabo  con  sus  grandes  pensamientos  y  deseos  de  servir  mas  a  su 
Rey,  como  lo  mostro  en  la  conquista  de  tan  grandes  reinos  y  estados,  y  en  los  que 
de  nuevo  quiso  conseguir  A  la  corona  de  Castilla  donde  gasto  toda  la  hacienda  que 
habia  adquirido."  Carranza,  pp.  100-101.  Martin,  Luis  and  Catalin^a  were 
legitimatized  by  Papal  Bull,  April  16,  1529.  Bancroft,  p.  483,  according  to  Alamdn, 
DiserL,  ii,  2d,  app.  32-36.  Philip  II  later  restored  the  "jurisdiccion  del  Mar- 
quesado,  con  muy  honradas  palabras  y  efectos,"  to  Don  Fernando  Cort6s  third 
Marqu6s  del  Valle,  and  second  by  the  name  of  Fernando.  In  1604,  Don  Pedro 
Cortes,  his  brother,  had  inherited  the  same.  Carranza  states  that  if  he  is  "cuerdo, 
no  deseard  venir  d  las  Indias,  porque  esta  tierra  no  sufre  mas  senor  que  al  que  aqui 
nos  gobierna  por  Su  Magestad."  Carranza,  pp.  100-101.  Salazar  y  Olarte, 
2a  parte,  p.  472  states:  "cuya  bastarda  impresion  llego  a  desconocerse  con  el  re- 
cuerdo  de  la  nobleza  de  nuestro  capitan,  haviendose  casado  con  caballeros  distin- 
guidos  y  permanentes  en  la  gran  ciudad  de  Mexico. 

1  Bernardez,  p.  34,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario;  Mota  Padilla,  p.  193. 
*  Ibid.,  pp.  34-35,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario. 


ANCESTRY  AND   FAMILY  OF  JUAN   DE  ONATE         461 

in  his  own  character  and  that  of  his  ancestors,  going  back  to  the 
Moorish  struggles  in  Spain,  is  evident  when  we  learn  that  when 
not  yet  ten  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  father  on  his  ex- 
peditions.^ 

The  ancestry  of  Cristobal,  Juan  de  Onate's  young  son,  great- 
great  grandson  of  Montezuma,  and  great  grandson  of  Cortes,  is 
interestingly  given  by  Villagra  :  ^ 

"  En  quien  vereis  al  uiuo  cifrados, 
Todos  los  nobles  Reyes  que  falieron, 
Deftas  nuevas  Regiones  y  plantaron. 
La  gran  ciudad  de  Mexico,  y  con  ellos, 
Vereis  tambien  aquellos  valero^os. 
Que  a  fuer^as  de  valor  y  de  trabajos, 
Eftas  remotas  tierras  pretendieron." 

Juan  de  Onate  had  four  brothers :  Don  Fernando,  whom  we 
have  already  seen  associated  with  his  father;  Don  Cristobal, 
Luys  Nunez  Perez,  and  Don  Alonso,  all  of  whom  were  wealthy, 
and  were  summoned  by  Don  Juan  to  help  him  in  his  work  of  ex- 
ploration in  New  Mexico.  They  rendered  him  valuable  assistance 
financially  and  acted  as  his  agents  in  the  responsible  govern- 
mental transactions  which  developed  out  of  this  exploration  and 
settlement  of  New  Mexico,  his  most  important  undertaking.^ 
Don  Fernando  is  described  in  1604  as  a  "cavallero  muy  prin- 
cipal." He  had  been  alcalde  mayor  of  the  cities  of  Los  Angeles, 
Guajocingo  and  Villa  de  Carrion.''  ^ 

» VillagrA,  Canto  Sexto. 

"Y  qual  fuelen  las  Aguilas  Reales, 
Que  h  los  tiernos  poUuelos  de  fu  nido, 
Largo  trecho  los  facan  y  remontan, 
Para  que  con  esfuerco  cobren  fuerpas, 
En  el  libiano  buelo,  y  del  fe  balgan, 
En  prouechofa  y  dief tra  alteneria, 
Afsi  determine  don  Juan  f aliefe, 
Su  hi  jo  don  Chrift6val,  nifio  tierno, 
Para  que  con  el  fueffe  y  fe  adef trafe, 
Sirbiendoos  gran  fenor  en  el  oficio, 
De  la  importante  guerra  trabajof  a, 
Siendo  tef tigo  J&el  de  fus  palabras, 
Para  que  con  las  obras  que  alii  viefe, 
Le  tuuieffe  defpues  en  bien  ferbiros, 
Por  vnico  dechado,  y  claro  exemplo." 

«  Canto  Sexto.  '  Ibid.  *  Carranza,  p.  315. 


462  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

He  married  Dona  Leonor  de  Rivadeneira,  daughter  of  Hernando 
de  Rivadeneira  and  Dona  Maria  de  Merida,  his  wife,  daughter  of 
the  tesorero  Alonso  de  Merida  and  Dona  Ines  de  Perea,  his  wife. 
They  had  several  children:  Don  Fernando,  the  younger,  Don 
Cristobal,  and  Dona  Antonia,  who  married  Don  Bernardino 
Vazquez  de  Tapia.  They  also  had  a  daughter  Doiia  Catalina, 
who  had  not  married  in  1604,  and  is  described  as  so  good  a 
Christian  that  she  was  desirous  of  entering  a  convent  so  as  to 
better  serve  God.^ 

Don  Cristobal  married  Dona  Maria  del  Castillo  who  had  died 
prior  to  1604.  Upon  her  death  he  inherited  the  encomienda  of  his 
wife,  which  was  the  pueblo  of  Santiago  Tecali,  and  which  yielded 
handsome  returns.  They  had  no  children.^  Don  Cristobal  is 
mentioned  in  1599,  when,  acting  in  the  name  of  his  brother,  Juan 
de  Onate,  he  appoints  Capitan  Caspar  de  Villagra,  "Capitan 
de  Caballos."  ^  Juan  de  Onate  also  had  a  sister.  Dona  Maria 
Galarza,^  who  married  Antonio  de  Ordaz.  Her  husband  inherited 
the  pueblos  of  Calpa  and  half  of  Chilapa  from  Diego  de  Ordaz 
Villagomez,  nephew  of  Diego  de  Ordaz,^  who  had  previously  been 
granted  these  pueblos  by  the  king  in  recognition  of  his  services. 
Don  Antonio  had  died  before  1604.  Their  daughter,  Juan  de 
Oiiate's  niece,  became  heir  to  the  various  pueblos,  being  of  the 
third   generation.     She   married   Ruy   Dias   de   Mendoza,^   her 

1  Carranza,  p.  315.  '  Ibid. 

'  Nombramiento  Real  de  Capitdn  de  Caballos  d  favor  del  Capitdn  Gaspar  de 
Villagrd,  Mexico,  Agosto  20,  1599.  In  Documentos  relativos  d  Gaspar  de  Villagra, 
Apendice  Primero,  p.  40.     Incorporated  in  Obregon's  Villagrd, 

*  Villagrd,  Canto  Honze. 

"»  Diego  de  Ordaz,  Capitan  de  los  diez,  segundo  Procurador  General  que  fu6  a 
Castilla.  Diego  de  Ordaz  came  over  with  Cort6s  as  captain  of  one  of  the  vessels 
in  the  armada.  He  was  a  person  of  importance  in  New  Spain,  served  in  the  wars 
with  Cortes,  until  he  was  expelled  by  the  natives  from  the  city  of  Mexico.  He 
was  in  the  war  of  Tepeaca  and  there  held  the  position  of  captain  of  infantry,  and 
from  Ithere  went  as  Procurador  to  Hayti  ("la  Isla  spanola")  and  from  there  to 
Spain.  When  he  returned,  the  land  had  been  brought  under  subjection,  but 
notwithstanding  this,  he  was  given  Yautepec  with  its  Indians  and  Teutila  and 
Chiautla,  and  also  the  province  of  Huejocingo.  He  then  went  as  governor  to  the 
Rio  Maranon,  and  through  his  services  and  qualities  secured  the  "hdbito  de  San- 
tiago." This  Diego  de  Ordaz  was  one  of  the  courageous  men  who  ascended  the 
volcano  of  Popocatepetl.  Although  eminently  successful  in  Mexico,  having  re- 
ceived pueblos  and  encomiendas ,  he  never  seemed  satisfied  and  ever  sought  new 
successes.  He  had  no  legitimate  descendants,  but  he  had  an  illegitimate  son  Alvaro 
de  Ordaz,  whom  Carranza  knew  personally,  and  whom  they  called  "el  volcan" 
in  memory  of  his  father.  He  was  considered  as  legitimate,  and  was  married  to 
Ana  de  Ordaz.  They  had  children,  but  all,  both  parents  and  children,  were  very 
poor.     Carranza,  pp.  170,  455. 

•  VillagrA,  Canto  Sexto. 


ANCESTRY  AND  FAMILY  OF  JUAN  DE  ONATE         463 

cousin,  who  later  helped  Juan  de  Oiiate  very  materially  in  his 
work  of  exploration  and  settlement  of  New  Mexico.  Both  were 
living  in  1604.  Juan  de  Onate  at  this  time  had  another  niece, 
whose  name  is  not  given,  and  who  was  not  married.^ 

The  Zaldivar  brothers,  Cristobal,  Francisco,  Juan,  and  Vicente 
were  Juan  de  Onate's  cousins.^  According  to  Villagra,  Juan  de 
Onate's  father  was  the  uncle  of  the  Zaldivars.^  Their  mother's 
name  seems  to  have  been  Onate,  but  whether  she  was  Don  Cris- 
tobal de  Onate's  sister  has  not  been  determined.  The  father  of 
the  Zaldivar  brothers  was  Juan  or  Vicente  de  Zaldivar.*  The 
Zaldivars  were  distinguished  persons  in  the  service  of  the  king, 
proving  the  valor  and  worth  of  the  illustrious  and  ancient  house 
of  Zaldivar,  well  known  in  Vizcaya,  because  of  its  acknowledged 
merit. ^ 

Dona  Isabel,  wife  of  Juan  de  Onate,  had  a  brother  Juan  Cortes, 
who  in  1620  had  not  married.  Dona  Isabel's  sister,  Dona  Leonor 
Cortes,  married  Cristobal  de  Zaldivar,  brother  of  the  Maestre  de 
Camyo.^  They  had  two  children,  Juan  and  Leonor,  who  were  cousins 
of  Juan  de  Onate's  children,  Cristobal  and  Maria.  Dona  Isabel's 
mother,  Dona  Leonor  de  Cortes  Montezuma,  daughter  of  Cortes 
and  granddaughter  of  Montezuma,^  in  1604  had  other  daughters 
who  were  nuns  in  Seville.^ 

As  already  noted,  when  Crist6bal  de  Onate  came  to  Zacatecas 
in  1548,  we  do  not  know  whether  Juan  de  Onate  was  yet  born. 
In  the  data  available  to  the  writer,  the  first  record  of  Juan's  service 

•  Carranza,  p.  171, 

^   "  Villagrd,  Canto  Sexto ;  Duro,  Don  Diego  de  Pefialoaa  (1648) ;    Torquemada, 
p.  671. 

./•  VillagrA,  Canto  Tercero  and  Sexto;  Torquemada,  p,  671. 

*  *  BernArdez,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario,  calls  him  Vicente,  but  Mota  Padilla 
states  that  his  name  was  Juan  and  not  Vicente,  and  that  he  was  not  governor,  but 
one  of  the  illustrious  captains  contemporaneous  with  Crist6bal  de  Onate,  Don 
Juan's  father.     Mota  Padilla,  p.  196. 

•  Haro  intended  to  make  further  mention,  as  he  himself  states,  of  this  illustrious 
family  in  his  vol.  4,  when  dealing  more  in  detail  with  the  illustrious  houses  of  Spain. 
This  work  is  not  available  beyond  quotations  therefrom,  interpolated  in  the  works 
of  other  authorities.  It  undoubtedly  would  contain  valuable  data  in  a  genealogical 
way,  and  might  clear  some  of  the  points  now  left  pending,  e.g.  whether  the  Zaldivar 
boys  were  Onate's  cousins  or  "  so6rtnos "  as  he  calls  them,  according  to  Bancroft. 
From  what  has  preceded  it  is  evident  that  by  reason  of  the  marriage  of  Christ6bai 
Zaldivar  to  Juan  de  Onate's  sister-in-law,  any  issue  therefrom  would  be  his  "so- 
brinos"  or  "sobrinas"  by  marriage.  j 

•  Bern^rdez,  p.  25,  according  to  Haro's  Nobilario;  Arlegiii:;^  p.  135;  Carranza, 
pp.  100-101. 

'  Villagrd,  Canto  Sexto  ;  Arlegui,  p.  135. 
>  Carranza,  pp.  100-101. 


464  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN  IN  HISTORY 

is  in  Zacatecas  in  1574/  when  "immediately  after  the  founding  of 
the  eighth  mission  in  the  province  of  Zacatecas,  namely:  Santa 
Maria  de  las  Charcas,  the  barbarous  Indians  reduced  it  to  ashes. 
Because  of  the  gentle  preaching  of  the  friars,  and  with  untold 
hardships,  they  were  able  to  rebuild  it,  help  being  furnished  by 
Juan  de  Onate,  son  of  Cristobal  de  Onate.  The  mission  was  re- 
built in  1583."  2 

We  also  find  that  "in  1583,^  San  Luis  Potosi  was  discovered, 
conquered  and  settled  by  Juan  de  Onate,"*  according  to  Arlegui 
and  Bernardez.  With  the  exception  of  this  limited  information 
as  to  specific  service  in  the  early  part  of  his  career,  we  must  leave 
Don  Juan  until  he  began  negotiations  for  the  settlement  of  New 
Mexico,  for  the  king  of  Spain.  At  the  time  that  he  petitioned  he 
was  residirg  in  Zacatecas.  His  age,  his  previous  success,  "and 
his  general  characteristics  "  ^  have  been  aptly  embraced  in  the  ex- 
pression "hombre  de  buenas  partes,"  prerequisites  for  final  suc- 
cess. "He  seemed  better  fitted  than  others  who  had  previously 
undertaken  the  enterprise."  ^ 

*  Arlegui,  1st  ed.,  reads  1574 ;  2d  ed.,  reads  1564. 
'  Berndrdez,  p.  32 ;  Arlegui,  p.  66. 

«  Arlegui,  pp.  56-57,  134-135 ;  Berndrdez,  p.  32. 

*  Berndrdez,  pp.  32-33,  says  1586.  Bancroft,  Hist.  Mexico,  vol.  2,  p.  763,  states : 
"In  1576  Luis  de  Leixa  had  penetrated  northeastward  and  on  the  slope  of  a  metal 
bearing  mountain  he  founded  the  town  of  San  Luis  Potosi."  Friar  Diego  de  la 
Magdalena  is  also  claimed  as  the  founder.  Ibid.,  p.  763.  The  San  Luis  Potosi 
Relacion  Circuns.,  calls    Onate,   "  descubridor,  conquistador,  y  poblador  de  San 

j^  Luis,  1583."     See  Bancroft,  Hist.  Ariz,  and  New  Mexico,  p.  116. 

O  '  Villagrd  substantiates  these  qualifications  of  Onate  when  he  says : 

"Afsi  don  Juan  fin  aguardar  mas  plazo, 
Llamado  de  la  fuerga  y  voz  de  Marte, 

Y  de  la  illuf tre  fangre  generofa, 
De  todos  fus  maiores  y  paffados, 

Y  deftos  grandes  Reyes  que  dezimos, 
Como  el  prudente  Griego  que  las  armas, 
Del  valerofo  Aquiles  pretendia, 

Por  deuida  jufticia  que  alegaua, 
Afsi  dio  en  pretender  aquef ta  imprefa, 
Por  el  derecho  grande  que  tenia, 
A  ferbiros  en  ella  fin  que  alguno, 
Otro  mejor  derecho  le  moftrafe." 
Canto  Sexto. 

'"Memorial  sobre  el  descubrimiento,"  Col.  Doc.  Ined.,  vol.  16,  pp.  188-189; 
*'  Carta  del  Virrey  Velasco  de  14  de  Octubre,  1595." 


MAR  1  e.  1917 


Gaylord  Bros 

Makers 

Syracuse.  N  Y. 

PAT.JAN.2I.  1908 


